Women The Perpetual Second Fiddle - What Is Up??

[einstein]

Women tell off party leaders


By Isaac Ongiri

This week, the two major parties, PNU and ODM, picked national officials in exercises that upset one group.

Women are crying foul over open bids to lock them out of the parties’ top organs. And to express their displeasure, they are planning a national conference to chart the way forward.

Leading the quest for equal representation in Government and parties is Gender and Children Affairs Minister Esther Murugi. She is spurred by events at PNU’s National Delegates Conference on Friday, when she was edged out in favour of a male politician for the vice-chairperson position.

Snack in the face

She was given a token position of deputy chairlady, women affairs (strategy), which she rejected and termed as a smack in the face for her and women in PNU.

"We are not happy, as women, of the treatment accorded to us by political parties, both the PNU and ODM. I want to challenge women in this country to rise up and fight for their space," Murugi said.

Public Health Minister Beth Mugo is said to have dropped her bid and supported Murugi for the vice-chairperson position. Both were shocked when a new list was read at the conference.

Other women politicians have supported Murugi’s sentiments. They say it is ‘revolution time’.

Former Karachuonyo MP, Mrs Phoebe Asiyo, warned President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka that women will not take any more empty promises.

To set the ‘revolution’ rolling, the National Council for Women says it will convene a meeting in January in Nairobi.

"This will bring together women delegates from all over the country to chart the way forward," said Murugi.

During the ODM convention at the Bomas of Kenya on Thursday, Assistant Minister Margaret Wanjiru led a protest after all tops seats went to male politicians.

"We could not take that, it is time the political class saw women as equal partners in leadership," Wanjiru said.

Her protests were supported by most delegates. This forced ODM to cut short proceedings to amend its constitution reserving eight more seats for women.

Party treachery

One vice-chairperson’s slot was created at the top leadership to accommodate the women.

"It is important that women are considered, not just in political party leadership but also in the public service, we should see more women PSs, more women ambassadors, more women judges, that is what a country like Kenya is expected to do," said Ida Odinga.

After the protests, Nairobi Metropolitan Development Assistant Minister Elizabeth Ongoro ran for the seat against Wanjiru, beating the Kamkunji MP in a vote taken by acclamation.

In the PNU polls, Murugi and Assistant Minister for Tourism Cecile Mbarire protested at what they termed as the party’s reluctance to accommodate women leaders.

"We must allow women to compete, we are not asking for free support, we are capable of fighting for our space, that space was not provided for in the PNU polls," says Mbarire.

Mbarire was cheered by delegates as she interrupted proceedings at the NDC, but this did not move the election board.

The Runyenjes MP had proposed Murugi (Nyeri Town) to oppose Kigumo MP Jamlek Kamau for vice-chairman in charge of research.

President Kibaki watched in amazement as the two women argued their case. The board declared Kamau vice-chairperson unopposed.

Yesterday, Murugi told The Standard on Sunday she had been short-changed as the agreement was that she would be allowed to fight for the seat on the floor.

"This is a very bad precedence, this argument that chama iko na wenyewe (party has its owners) is what women in whatever party they are in must fight."

The minister is now rooting for the re-tabling of the Affirmative Bill in Parliament.

"We have to fight for our space, I will support the retabling of the Bill as one of the steps towards women’s freedom in politics," she said.

Asiyo is challenging the Government to stick to the international agreement it signed, promising to allocate public positions to the marginalised.

"It is only in Kenya where you can be the majority and yet you are maginalised," said the veteran politician.


Change game

Asiyo urged women to go for top posts, adding the solution was not forming another party. She challenged men to learn from events in the neighbourhood.

"In Uganda 29 percent of MPs are women, In Tanzania it is over 30 percent and in Rwanda its 55 percent. ODM, PNU and ODM-K must stop pretending not to be seeing this change," she said.

Asiyo and Murugi urged women not to be used to fill lesser positions for reasons of convenience.

LPK Chairperson Julia Ojiambo also criticised the political leadership for exploiting women.

"They come out in style last year to lie to Kenyans about so many issues, now we all know they were lying and women must rise up to stop this dishonesty," Ojiambo said.

Marakwet East MP Jebii Kilimo, who is the chairperson of the Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association, says women ministers have done their job well.

"If you look at Martha Karua, Prof Helen Sambili, Dr Sally Kosgey and Murugi, these are success stories and no scandals have been heard about women ministers," Kilimo said.

[politicalmaniac]

Ojiambo should shut the f#ck up!
She sold her soul to the devil why should she be considered for anything?

But it stinks esp ODM!
Nyanza has never had a woman MP for 3 complete august houses for good ness sakes!
NE?

Women need to shout and complain kabisa!

[einstein]

Dec 21, 2008 1:28:25 GMT 3 politicalmaniac said:

Ojiambo should shut the f#ck up!
She sold her soul to the devil why should she be considered for anything?

But it stinks esp ODM!
Nyanza has never had a woman MP for 3 complete august houses for good ness sakes!
NE?

Women need to shout and complain kabisa!

Yeah PM,

I agree with you. Nyanza is catastrophic as far as women representation in anything is concerned. I had hoped that Raila would address the problem soonest. Unfortunately, he is dragging his feet and that is why I think Jukwaa ladies have to shout loudest now!!

It is not just about Nyanza, it is about the whole country!!

Ladies, where art thou??

[man]

I will play the devil's advocate here and truth be told. I think that women are their own worst enemies. Anytime you see them complaining like is the case in the recent party elections, it is always due to thier selfish intentions. Women will always shout at the top of thier lungs about equality but instead of competing on equal footing with their male counterparts, which in my opinion is the true meaning of equality, they will always wait for everyting to be handed out to them on a silver platter and when this is not forthcoming, then the all too familiar chorus "discrimination bull crap". It is a high time women learn to compete for whatever they want instead of waiting for freebies and then complaining after the fact. How do women explain the fact that the majority of voters are women and yet they still complain of being marginalized? As far as I am concerned, the electorate is the fertile ground for the women to advance their agenda and if they cannot do this as has been the case in the past then they should just shut up until such a time when they will learn to get off their butts and go fight for whatever it is they want. That is just one person speaking.

[einstein]

Kenya women parliamentary association chairperson Linah Jebii Kilimo addresses journalists at a Nairobi hotel on December 22,2008. She said there was poor representation of women during the political parties elections. With her is Dr Joyce Laboso. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL (NAIROBI)


Women MPs fault parties' lists

Women Members of Parliament have urged the registrar of political parties to reject lists of party officials that do not comply with the Political Parties Act.

The MPs led by Co-operative Development Assistant minister Jelimo Kilimo condemned political parties for holding national elections and ignoring affirmative action.

The 22 MPs said most parties did not comply with the 30 per cent rule, which provides for a third of party leaders must be from either gender, in the Political Parties Act during their recent national polls.

They accused the three major parties PNU, ODM and ODM-K of ignoring their pledge last year during campaigns when they announced they would promote affirmative action.

So far, only two of the 168 registered parties by the registrar of societies have women as their national chairperson.

They are Narc Kenya represented by Justice and Constitutional affairs minister, Ms Martha Karua and her Water Development counterpart Mrs Charity Ngilu, who heads Narc.

Narc-K is an affiliate of PNU while Narc is affiliated to ODM.

Speaking as the chairperson of the Kenya Womens’ Parliamentary Association, the Marakwet East MP described the party polls as a sham saying most of the officials were selected and not elected as required by the Act.

She was addressing a press conference at The Stanley in Nairobi. She was flanked by Sotik MP Ms Joyce Laboso, Mrs Beatrice Kones (Bomet) and Nominated MP Ms Sofia Noor.

Ms Kilimo, who is a Kenda MP, regretted that despite women constituting 52 per cent of the 35 million Kenyans, they were poorly represented in the recent party polls.

“We are very disappointed by the way the political parties have mistreated us during the just concluded party polls and appeal to the registrar of political parties to come to our rescue,” the Assistant minister said.

Ms Laboso accused her party ODM of favouring men by allowing them to lobby in advance and have their names on a special list, while the women were ambushed at the eleventh hour and asked to declare their interest from the floor.

[einstein]

Women were shortchanged, but they are to blame

Did they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned? Not true. The women MPs who came out on Monday protesting that their sex has been getting a raw deal in the ongoing re-registration of political parties came out more like mild kittens than fire-breathing amazons.

They were not demanding their rights, but merely begging for kind consideration so that the Registrar of Political Parties can ensure the gender-balance requirement is observed.

The Political Parties Bill contains a host of new provisions that the 300 or so political parties must meet by December 31 if they are to remain on the register.

They must have a certain number of members countrywide, offices and office-bearers in all constituencies, file audited accounts and other statutory returns, and so on.

Oh, and there must be a gender balance of sorts in the leadership, the specific provision requiring that at least a third of the officials be of either gender.

Already a handful of parties have held elections and claim to meet everything else required under the new rules.

I suspect that hardly more than a dozen will qualify to remain on the register come the new year, and that will mean good riddance to a host of briefcase operations masquerading as political parties.

But will they meet all the requirements? And will the registrar – a political appointee known more for kowtowing to her masters than operating professionally – have the guts to deregister any of the major parties that ignore some of the statutory requirements?

So far, most of the major parties, or the aspiring ones – including President Kibaki’s PNU; Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s ODM; Vice-President Kalonzo’s Musyoka’s ODM Kenya; Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s Kanu; Justice minister Martha Karua’s Narc Kenya; Health minister Charity Ngilu’s Narc – claim to have met the registration requirements.

But one they all blithely seem to have ignored is the rule requiring gender parity.

In all the parties, all the top officials are men, with only a handful of women getting their usual token appointments such as deputy assistant secretary for youth and women affairs.

One party, ODM, realised it had not reached the threshold and on the floor at its delegates’ convention instantly created meaningless new posts for women.

One suspects even the office -cleaner and tea-girl were classified as a party officials for purposes of registration. I suppose the registrar would be none the wiser if she came across a deputy assistant secretary for beverage and sanitary affairs.

When women MPs under the aegis of the Kenya Women’s Parliamentary Association on Monday went public with their complaint about lack of gender balance, one would have expected them to come out with a very strong position.

Instead, what we saw was a meek appeal to the registrar of political parties to reject any party that ignores gender balance in its leadership.

What will they do if their plea is not heeded? A very pregnant silence, for they will do absolutely nothing.

Despite laws aimed at enforcing affirmative action, the Kenyan woman politician in most cases remains a second-class citizen, usually a mere appendage or decoration on the political scene.

That refrain about women making up more than 50 per cent of the population and still getting a raw deal at party leadership is getting rather tired.

If women are a majority, then for heaven’s sake, they don’t need the helping hand of affirmative action!

PNU, ODM, ODM Kenya, Kanu, Kaddu, PICK et al should not need any prodding by law to ensure a majority of women in leadership; women should be able to fight for those posts and win them.

But that will not happen as long as our women are mere dancers on the political arena, and the few that rise above that are marionettes at the service of powerful men.

On Monday, as Ms Jebii Kilimo, Ms Joyce Laboso, Ms Beatrice Kones and Ms Sofia Noor made their plaintive pleas, it appeared that they would be better suited to the kitchen making tea rather than trying to play on an equal footing with men on our turbulent political field.

[einstein]

Dec 23, 2008 0:02:33 GMT 3 man said:

I will play the devil's advocate here and truth be told. I think that women are their own worst enemies. Anytime you see them complaining like is the case in the recent party elections, it is always due to thier selfish intentions. Women will always shout at the top of thier lungs about equality but instead of competing on equal footing with their male counterparts, which in my opinion is the true meaning of equality, they will always wait for everyting to be handed out to them on a silver platter and when this is not forthcoming, then the all too familiar chorus "discrimination bull crap". It is a high time women learn to compete for whatever they want instead of waiting for freebies and then complaining after the fact. How do women explain the fact that the majority of voters are women and yet they still complain of being marginalized? As far as I am concerned, the electorate is the fertile ground for the women to advance their agenda and if they cannot do this as has been the case in the past then they should just shut up until such a time when they will learn to get off their butts and go fight for whatever it is they want. That is just one person speaking.

Man,

The problem with our women is their infatuation with this thing called 'affirmative action'. I already gave my views about affirmative action and the marginalised groups in another thread and I had the feeling then that my views were not only unpopular but also made some people hit the roof. That is why I'm waiting especially to hear what our ladies have got to say.

Personally, I think our ladies have got enormous potentials that have not been tapped. But it is a grave mistake for them to rely solely on affirmative action laws. I believe that God created us ALL equal and endowed us with the same potentials! As such, I do not understand why women should wait for men to make some laws to favour them?! Women do not need any favours from men. What they need are EQUAL rights!! Begging for affirmative action is akin to pleading with one's coloniser to please have mercy and grant one one's freedom rights! That has never worked anywhere!!

Honestly speaking, affirmative action in itself is discriminative in nature! It can easily turn into reverse discrimination. But let me stop there before I again annoy some people.

[akello]

einstein, yes you are very annoying when you begin your post with the phrase 'the problem with our women'. everything else you say does not matter, you have already declared your position.

[politicalmaniac]

einstein
Emerge from the intellectual hole you ar operating from.
Even in the so called west despite women having attained ultimate power like Merkel or Thatcher, they dont have that much political clout.
Even in the US, the senate of 100 has less than 20 women and the House of Reps 1/3 or less are women if I am not mistaken.
Its a universal problem made worse by Kenya's and AFrica gender bias.
I esp condemn the NEP and Nyanza, its like they are in the 18th century as far as women and leadership is concerned.

[einstein]

Dec 23, 2008 18:25:44 GMT 3 politicalmaniac said:

einstein
Emerge from the intellectual hole you ar operating from.
Even in the so called west despite women having attained ultimate power like Merkel or Thatcher, they dont have that much political clout.
Even in the US, the senate of 100 has less than 20 women and the House of Reps 1/3 or less are women if I am not mistaken.
Its a universal problem made worse by Kenya's and AFrica gender bias.
I esp condemn the NEP and Nyanza, its like they are in the 18th century as far as women and leadership is concerned.

PM,

There is completely nothing intellectual in my comments above. Mrs Merkel of Germany and Mrs Thatcher of GB you mentioned above made it to the pinnacle of power in their respective countries not because of affirmative action but because of the grassroot support they mobilised. This enabled them to beat their opponents in their own game. In the US, Hillary actually beat Obama in the primaries according to the popular vote if my memory serves me well. Again this was not due to any favours being done to her and you had better watch her, Hillary will become the first woman American president without affirmative action.

Nearer home, Rwandan, Ugandan and Tanzanian women are doing much better than their Kenyan counterparts. Do you want to tell me their success is based on special favours from men?

In Kenya currently, we have women like Martha Karua and Charity Ngilu who are heading their own parties because they've refused to give in to male domination. Ngilu already tried to be president and you can be sure Karua will do the same. These women have proved that they are no pushovers. They do not owe their positions to any man. How do they do this? That is the question the rest of our female politicians have to answer!

Women can do it if only they stop standing in their own way.

I think it is rather defeatist for you to claim that this is a universal problem and as such we can sit on our hands and wait for affirmative actions to sort out the gender imbalance in politics and other spheres of life. Affirmative action should be there to jump-start the gender balance but the rest should be done by women themselves!!

[einstein]

Dec 23, 2008 17:14:58 GMT 3 @akello said:

einstein, yes you are very annoying when you begin your post with the phrase 'the problem with our women'. everything else you say does not matter, you have already declared your position.

Akello,

Let me state from the outset that I do NOT intend to be the subject matter of this thread. The thread has a topic which should be discussed. The way I express myself in English should be none of your business. If you do not like my English expressions, then go complain to my English teachers both at primary and secondary school levels. They are Mr Alala and Mr Patel respectively. They must have been very poor English teachers!!!

I have completely no problem if you disagree with my views or my declared position on a topic. We can disagree without being disagreeable, to borrow from Obama. It is upon you to challenge my views if you want. That is what discussion is all about. But please leave the person of Einstein out of the discussion. And if you do not have anything to say about the topic, then do not bother. The thread will die its own natural death anyway if the topic is not important enough.

Please don't take me there again. I've been there before!

I know that this is a very sensitive topic which is likely to generate a lot of emotions. That notwithstanding, it is still important to discuss it. We are talking about a societal issue here which needs to be addressed.

Thanks and Merry Christmas!!

[einstein]

All parties have wronged women


Your columnist Macharia Gaitho on Tuesday wrote an article accusing women leaders of being docile while demanding their political rights. This conclusion requires a response.

First, he asserts that women should be able to fight for party positions without affirmative action. But the unique challenges facing women in competitive politics gives the lie to such a conclusion.

Our political parties are the epitome of autocracy and chauvinism, characteristics that are also reflected in the general governance of this country.

One of the major problems facing political parties today is lack of internal democracy and hence lack of accountability. It is well-known that parties are owned and controlled by a few wealthy individuals, who are able to fund them.

It is also a fact that women are economically marginalised and unable to fund their political parties like men. This effectively alienates women from decision-making structures.

There are pervasive cultural prejudices against women that relegate them to the periphery of decision-making. Also, few are able to engage in masculine vices such as corruption, violence and intimidation that go with electoral processes.

The assertion that men and women can compete on the same footing in the circumstances is therefore spiteful to women and other marginalised groups such as people living with disabilities and minorities.

Affirmative action is necessary until such a time when the unique challenges facing women and other marginalised groups are no more.

The party elections only served as a reminder that the more things change, the more they remain the same. The same undemocratic tactics have been employed to retain the old faces in party leadership structures. Very few of these faces are women.

This only affirms the growing notion that there is no single reformist party in Kenya. Most parties that have submitted their returns to the Registrar of Political Parties have failed to satisfy the requirement in the Political Parties’ Act that seeks at least 30 per cent of party officials to be of either gender.

What is more worrying is the fact that most have been given certificates of compliance.

The Political Parties’ Act mainly seeks to promote internal democracy and accountability. Representation is basically the essence of democracy and is a right. Serious advocates of democracy should not be seen to overlook any aspect of democracy, including gender equity.

Women will continue saying that any elective process that alienates more than 50 per cent of its population from representation scores F in the test of democracy. It’s not about what women will do but rather the need to uphold the principles of democracy in totality.

The Government has the obligation to ensure that the right to representation is realised by all, even if by means of affirmative action. It is on this premise women parliamentarians and other leaders are asking the Registrar of Political Parties not to clear any party that fails to comply with the gender balance requirement.

The work of the registrar should go beyond receiving returns and issuing certificates. If the Political Parties’ Act seeks to promote democracy, then the registrar, should ensure that parties comply with every single provision in the Act.

Failure to do this will only promote impunity within political parties, and the Act will be useless. The only difference will be that taxpayers, who include women, will be funding this impunity.

Ms Njau works with the Foundation for Women Rights in Kenya (Email: [e-mail])

[einstein]

Women and youth cry foul over party polls


Kenya’s political landscape is grappling with a generational gap crisis as older politicians cling to leadership at the expense of more energetic and adventurous younger men and woman.

The political future of women and the youth remains unclear after they failed to clinch executive party positions during the recently-concluded elections of political parties.

The youth account for the majority of Kenya’s population but their leadership dreams remain a mirage as the old generation of politicians refuse to let go off leadership positions.

Despite the political parties elections being partly a fulfilment of the Political Parties Act requirement, pundits aver that it is an early arrangement for the presidential bid in 2012.

According to statistics, the youth account for the majority of Kenya’s population.

Grip on power

And with the youth hoping to be leaders of tomorrow, the question is who is to blame, between an older generation that wouldn’t relinquish its grip on power, and the younger lot that has kept out of competitive politics in favour of their careers.

As per the results of the recent party elections, no youth managed to clinch the top executive positions. And, save for Narc Kenya’s Martha Karua who is the party’s chairperson, women were equally given a raw deal in PNU, ODM and other leading parties.

In PNU, only Dagoretti MP Beth Mugo got the position of chairperson of Women’s Affairs. Gender Affairs minister Esther Murugi was denied the chance to vie for the vice-chairman’s post in favour of Mr Jimmy Angwenyi.

In ODM, no woman or youth was elected to the executive.

But the party has defended itself against accusations from women parliamentarians that the top leadership is not gender representative.

ODM chairman Henry Kosgey said on Tuesday that regional balance overtook the gender parity consideration during the elections last Thursday, but pointed out that out of the 56 posts, 25 went to women.

Women legislators from ODM and PNU on Monday discredited the recent appointment of officials in the two major parties saying women were not given their fair share.

Led by the Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association Chairperson, Jebii Kilimo, the women claimed the lists had been crafted secretly despite costly campaigns by the candidates.

“If we believe in sharing and equality, should there be canvassing? There should be democracy if they really recognise the role women play in their parties,” she said, adding:“We are calling on women to stop voting these men in.”

Sotik Member of Parliament Dr Joyce Laboso had on Monday appealed to the Registrar of Political Parties to critically scrutinise the lists of party leaders to ensure a third of the officials were women.

However the Registrar, Ms Lucy Ndung’u, says all the parties that had applied for registration had met the one- third requirement adding that the December 31 deadline still stands.

On his part ODM secretary-general Anyang’ Nyong’o said the women could make the seemingly inferior posts influential.

“It is important to give individuals the opportunity to be in the party executive whatever the post is and then for them to contribute to the building of the party. That is what will make history,” he said.

Political parties have until the end of this month to comply with the Political Parties Act and be registered by the Registrar of Political Parties.

The time for youth to take over leadership is yet to come in Kenya, according to former Kabete MP Paul Muite. For instance, President Kibaki incensed the youth after taking power when he stuffed his Cabinet and civil service with old, retired personalities that came to be known as the “grey-haired club”, Mr Muite says.

“The long-held dream that Kenyan politics would at one time be driven by young and educated personalities aged 40 and below remains a mirage, even as there is a growing consensus that the old generation is starving Kenyan politics of new and innovative ideas,” he says.

In his last years as Kenya’s second President, Mr Daniel arap Moi vowed to work with the young generation to give the country’s political landscape a face-lift.

He argued, while propping up Mr Uhuru Kenyatta to succeed him, that the old crop of politicians had over the years messed up politics and should pave the way for the young.

Mr Kenyatta and former Vice-President Musalia Mudavadi team, on the one hand, was the first serious attempt to push the youth into senior political leadership.

But, on the other hand, it was seen as Moi’s style of regional politics, besides the idea of cementing inheritance politics by some of Kenya’s prominent political families.

Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny, one of the youthful legislators in the 10th Parliament, says these leaders, most of whom are now in their twilight years, have refused to give way for younger leaders, and still retain much influence.

“With this kind of political arrangement, the youth may not have a chance to lead this country soon,” he said.

Despite women MPs hitting a record in the current Parliament, their gender is yet to ascend to political supremacy in this land.

Earlier attempts by women to run for the presidency have proved hard as experienced both in 1992 and 1997 when Mrs Charity Ngilu and Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai respectively performed dismally despite women accounting for a larger percentage of voters in the country.

[einstein]

Shouting loudest always helps!! Thank God for my big mouth inherited from my mama!! I love you mama!!!!



Shirikisho Party of Kenya leader Chirau Ali Mwakwere (centre) congratulates the newly-elected chairperson, Ms Lina Mkasi Buni, after she won the seat unopposed during the party’s national delegates conference at the Bombolulu Cultural Workshops on Sunday. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU


Party picks woman as chairperson



Shirikisho Party of Kenya (SPK) has become the first political party to elect a woman chairperson since the Political Parties Act was passed.

Ms Linah Mkasi Buni, a nominated councillor from Kilifi county council, was elected to the position when the party held its national delegates conference in Mombasa on Sunday. The post of vice chairman went to Mr Nassir Mohamed.

Transport minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, who is the Party of National Unity (PNU) vice chairman, is the SPK party leader.

He said that he was given permission by SPK to contest the Matuga parliamentary seat on a PNU ticket. Mr Yusuf Abubakar was elected the party’s secretary general while his deputy will be Mr Abdulkadir Khamis Mwinyi.

The treasurer’s position went to Ms Wakio Mzozo while Ms Saida Rama Shikely is vice treasurer.

Mr Adam Mohamed Mbeto was elected as the organising secretary with Ms Rukia Ahmed as his deputy. All the officials were elected unopposed. They had submitted their applications by the end of December 24.

Form coalitions

In her acceptance speech, Ms Buni who replaces Mr Mashengu wa Mwachofi as party chairman, said that the party will form coalitions with other parties as it prepares for the 2012 General Election.

“This is the era of coalition government,” she said. She acknowledged her election, describing SPK as a unique party which recognises the capacity of women to lead.

Her remarks came barely a week after women leaders protested after the two main parties, ODM and PNU, failed to name them to key party positions.

Ms Buni asked for the support of party members for the party to achieve political success. The outgoing chairperson, Mr Mwachofi, said he was happy to hand over the mantle of leadership of the party.

“I have served the party as chairperson for two terms since 2002. I did not seek re-election,” he said.

SPK elected its officials four days before the December 31 deadline for all political parties to have complied with the requirements of the Political Parties Act.

[einstein]

This might not be the right thread for this, but I will post it here anyway to emphasise a point!!


Monica Wairimu Mutinda (left) is this year’s top KCPE student nationally with 460 marks while Martin Mzera is the second best student nationally with 454 marks.

KCPE: Big upsets as girls trounce boys


By Standard Team

The traditional order in KCPE examination did not hold this year: Previous giants played second fiddle and girls made a strong showing in the top positions.

Instead of candidates from Nairobi and Central provinces dominating the charts, it is Coast Province that has reigned supreme among the top 100 candidates.

The region produced the top two candidates, Mutinda Monica Wairimu (460 marks of a possible 500) and Mzera Martin (454), and went on to scoop 25 of the top 100 positions, beating giants Nairobi and Central to second and fourth places respectively.

Candidates from Nairobi and Rift Valley took 19 places each among the top 100, followed by Central with 14, Western 11, Eastern seven and Nyanza five.

As has become common, North-Eastern Province did not feature among the top 100. The best candidate from the arid region had 434 marks yet lowest mark among the top 100 was 442.

Girls gave a good account of themselves, picking 46 of the top 100 positions with boys taking the remaining 54.

But the top candidate, Mutinda, a girl, bettered last year’s mark of 455 by scoring 460.

In addition, girls led in five of the eight provinces. Mutinda (460) was tops in Coast, Njoroge Charity Wairimu (450 marks) in Central and Rugaita W Sandra (447) in Eastern.

Yahya Salama Mohammed (453) emerged tops in Nairobi and Onyango Catriona Akinyi (454) in Western.

Called the shots

However, in Rift Valley, Nyanza and North Eastern, boys called the shots. Njoroge Paul Mbuthia (452) led in the Rift Valley, Adino Barry Magenya (446) in Nyanza and Abdi Mohammed Nur (434) in North Eastern.

And among schools, the star is Mombasa’s Highgate Academy. It not only produced the top two candidates, but also scooped 18 of the top 100 students nationally and 35 in Coast Province.

Nationally, behind Mutinda was her classmate Mzera who tied in second place with Onyango Catriona Akinyi of Western’s Booker Academy with 454 marks.

The fourth position went to Yahya Salama Mohammed of Nairobi’s Makini School with 453 marks.

Rift Valley’s Njogu Paul Mbuthia took fifth position and the sixth went to Highgate’s Murguyiah Saitoti, Rift Valley’s Nyakundi Faith Bochaberi and Njeru Collins Moses of Marell Academy in Western Province. They all scored 451 marks.

God is great

Mutinda’s mother, Ms Ruth Muthoka, told the daughter on receiving the news: "God is great! You have made us proud." Muthoka is a records officer at a local hospital.

Mzera, the top boy, said: "Hard work pays and is truly the only way to success. One has to be focused and put God first."

Njeru attributed his good results to encouragement and support from friends, teachers and relatives when he lost his mother a week before the exams.

"In spite of my loss, I vowed to work hard as a dedication to my mother," he said.

He hopes to join Nairobi’s Starehe Boys Centre and become an information technology engineer.

Daniel Ndirangu of Nyeri’s St Francis Nyaribo Academy was second in Central and best boy in the province, scoring 450 marks. He was ranked ninth nationally.

"I want to be a pilot or lawyer, and I know I will succeed," he said.

The top boy from Nyanza, Adino (446) of Kisii Central’s St Green Hills Academy was 38th nationally.

"I knew I would do well but did not expect to be the best in the province," he told journalists as he celebrated the results. He wants to be an engineer.

Rugaita W Sandra and Muinde Gerald Muthiani emerged tops in Eastern Province after tying with 447 marks. They were ranked 28th among the top 100 performers nationally.

This is the first time since 2002 that a female candidate has topped the national examination.

Taking the fourth position nationally was the top candidate in Nairobi, Yahya, of Makini School with 454 marks.

Nairobi had two other students in the top ten — Nixon Ounda of Komarock’s New Light Academy and Ashley Muthoni Mwangi of Kayole’s Tender Care Junior Academy.

As in previous years, private schools dominated the top 100 positions.

Releasing the results yesterday, Education Minister Sam Ongeri said there was improved performance in five of the eight papers compared to last year.

English Composition improved from 40 per cent to 41 per cent, as did Kiswahili Objective (51 to 57 per cent).

Improved mean

In Kiswahili composition, the mean improved from 43 to 46 per cent; Social Studies 60 to 61 per cent and Religious Studies 59 to 60 per cent.

But there was a drop in performance in English Objective from 47 to 42 percent.

Candidates also performed dismally in mathematics, which registered a further drop from 49 per cent last year to 47 per cent. After a significant improvement in science last year, candidates performed poorly with a drop from 59 to 55 per cent.

The number of candidates who scored 250 marks and above was 346,885, about half the candidates, compared to 339,709 last year.

[kingtut]

congratulations to the girls for leading in KCPE !

[enigma]

Dec 23, 2008 0:18:26 GMT 3 einstein said:

Kenya women parliamentary association chairperson Linah Jebii Kilimo addresses journalists at a Nairobi hotel on December 22,2008. She said there was poor representation of women during the political parties elections. With her is Dr Joyce Laboso. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL (NAIROBI)


Women MPs fault parties' lists

Women Members of Parliament have urged the registrar of political parties to reject lists of party officials that do not comply with the Political Parties Act.

The MPs led by Co-operative Development Assistant minister Jelimo Kilimo condemned political parties for holding national elections and ignoring affirmative action.

The 22 MPs said most parties did not comply with the 30 per cent rule, which provides for a third of party leaders must be from either gender, in the Political Parties Act during their recent national polls.

They accused the three major parties PNU, ODM and ODM-K of ignoring their pledge last year during campaigns when they announced they would promote affirmative action.

So far, only two of the 168 registered parties by the registrar of societies have women as their national chairperson.

They are Narc Kenya represented by Justice and Constitutional affairs minister, Ms Martha Karua and her Water Development counterpart Mrs Charity Ngilu, who heads Narc.

Narc-K is an affiliate of PNU while Narc is affiliated to ODM.

Speaking as the chairperson of the Kenya Womens’ Parliamentary Association, the Marakwet East MP described the party polls as a sham saying most of the officials were selected and not elected as required by the Act.

She was addressing a press conference at The Stanley in Nairobi. She was flanked by Sotik MP Ms Joyce Laboso, Mrs Beatrice Kones (Bomet) and Nominated MP Ms Sofia Noor.

Ms Kilimo, who is a Kenda MP, regretted that despite women constituting 52 per cent of the 35 million Kenyans, they were poorly represented in the recent party polls.

“We are very disappointed by the way the political parties have mistreated us during the just concluded party polls and appeal to the registrar of political parties to come to our rescue,” the Assistant minister said.

Ms Laboso accused her party ODM of favouring men by allowing them to lobby in advance and have their names on a special list, while the women were ambushed at the eleventh hour and asked to declare their interest from the floor.

I was taken aback when I saw my former lecturer Joyce Laboso pleading meekly for women. Quite uncharacteristic considering her very articulate and confident delivery back in the day. I don't know what happens when they get into politics.
Ngilu and Martha Karua are party leaders, why didn't they show the way by pushing for the 30% rule in their respective parties? I don't understand why a party post in ODM is more desirable to a post in NARC, if the former party does not want to live up to its pre-election pledge or the law of the land for that matter. I know you might point to the fact that they might have lost seats for such a move, but when will they stand up for principle rather than just riding the wave of euphoria and ethno-geopolitical alignments crafted by the patriarchs?

[enigma]

Dec 23, 2008 0:18:26 GMT 3 einstein said:

Kenya women parliamentary association chairperson Linah Jebii Kilimo addresses journalists at a Nairobi hotel on December 22,2008. She said there was poor representation of women during the political parties elections. With her is Dr Joyce Laboso. Photo/PHOEBE OKALL (NAIROBI)


Women MPs fault parties' lists

Women Members of Parliament have urged the registrar of political parties to reject lists of party officials that do not comply with the Political Parties Act.

The MPs led by Co-operative Development Assistant minister Jelimo Kilimo condemned political parties for holding national elections and ignoring affirmative action.

The 22 MPs said most parties did not comply with the 30 per cent rule, which provides for a third of party leaders must be from either gender, in the Political Parties Act during their recent national polls.

They accused the three major parties PNU, ODM and ODM-K of ignoring their pledge last year during campaigns when they announced they would promote affirmative action.

So far, only two of the 168 registered parties by the registrar of societies have women as their national chairperson.

They are Narc Kenya represented by Justice and Constitutional affairs minister, Ms Martha Karua and her Water Development counterpart Mrs Charity Ngilu, who heads Narc.

Narc-K is an affiliate of PNU while Narc is affiliated to ODM.

Speaking as the chairperson of the Kenya Womens’ Parliamentary Association, the Marakwet East MP described the party polls as a sham saying most of the officials were selected and not elected as required by the Act.

She was addressing a press conference at The Stanley in Nairobi. She was flanked by Sotik MP Ms Joyce Laboso, Mrs Beatrice Kones (Bomet) and Nominated MP Ms Sofia Noor.

Ms Kilimo, who is a Kenda MP, regretted that despite women constituting 52 per cent of the 35 million Kenyans, they were poorly represented in the recent party polls.

“We are very disappointed by the way the political parties have mistreated us during the just concluded party polls and appeal to the registrar of political parties to come to our rescue,” the Assistant minister said.

Ms Laboso accused her party ODM of favouring men by allowing them to lobby in advance and have their names on a special list, while the women were ambushed at the eleventh hour and asked to declare their interest from the floor.

I was taken aback when I saw my former lecturer Joyce Laboso pleading meekly for women. Quite uncharacteristic considering her very articulate and confident delivery back in the day. I don't know what happens when they get into politics.
Ngilu and Martha Karua are party leaders, why didn't they show the way by pushing for the 30% rule in their respective parties? I don't understand why a party post in ODM is more desirable to a post in NARC, if the former party does not want to live up to its pre-election pledge or the law of the land for that matter. I know you might point to the fact that they might have lost seats for such a move, but when will they stand up for principle rather than just riding the wave of euphoria and ethno-geopolitical alignments crafted by the patriarchs?

[einstein]

Just for your info, this article is NOT from Einstein!


Girls, stop striking that ‘woiyee’ pose of losers


By Jeeh Wanjurah

Amid the excitement President Obama’s inauguration stirred, it is understandable for otherwise good ears like those of Rachel Shebesh to have heard more than there was in the outstanding speech.

Minutes after the speech, the Nominated MP shared her recap with KTN. Whether by design or otherwise, she was among analysts that typically have something to say on everything everybody has witnessed. Perhaps it is the others who gate-crashed her media date. In deference to the science of opposites, they were predominantly men, some obviously keener for the company of the beauty with an Afro hairstyle, "Naughty Gal" boots, a short, decent skirt and a snugly-fitting top that appeared to have been specifically designed for her skin than for the cameras.

Shebesh said she found the speech electrifying. That Obama’s pitch for equality of humanity was germane for the country of the "small village where my father was born." When she got here, the MP could scarcely contain her own perorations. She ran ahead of the speech with a lunge at ethnicity and gender inequality. She thought the US President had been scathing in his condemnation of biases against women.

In reality, Obama’s sermon against discrimination never went that far. The American President may have difficulties contemplating tribe as basis of acute differences although, ideally, he should know something on this from his father’s background. His speech however was more about international prejudices of religion, race and culture than the biases of contemporary ethnic-inclined Africa regimes grappling with governing disparate communities coerced into nations by the whims of here-today-gone-tomorrow colonialists.

To Shebesh and other women leaders, going gaga on discrimination requires little urging. They are caught in a frustrating stretch on public appointments. This is compounded by the fact the inequality is orchestrated by people they hitherto regarded as allies in their equality campaign. Rather than consolidate their few gains, they are now witnessing a steady erosion that is impervious to collective protestations. Thus they need every other available voice of concern, real or illusory.

The Grand Coalition Government increasingly appears contemptuous of women. Whether in the goings-on in their respective political parties or in key Government positions, the President and the Prime Minister are apparently agreed women exist to break the monotony of ugly, bearded faces or to pass that glass of water when official waitresses are kept at bay. This unity of contempt is almost palpable. Since the naked discrimination was announced, none of the "principals" or their minions has shown remorse.

Shebesh and her ilk have predictably taken umbrage with this. That is as it should be. Women leaders, MPs especially, need to go beyond striking the ‘woiyee’ pose of desperate housewives. Soliciting public empathies with damsel-in-distress arguments only fortifies stereotypes that women can only live by eating from the male palm.

For a more proactive approach, they might wish to shun false modesty and employ more pragmatic and tested formulas. Because the male kingdom hardly has time for their brains, they need not shy away from trading what sells. If they can’t appeal to the head, they might as well talk to the heart. Good looks and ability and willingness to wield them appropriately have never done a woman much harm. Alternatively, the decision on whom to nominate to Parliament or any other prominent public post is often men’s.

Leadership credibility

It helps when the nominee has solid credentials and a profile that stands her out. But in a sea of potentials, that extra personal spice could be the difference between the chosen few and the could-have-been.

But what do you see in our women leaders? Save for one or two, it as if they are in a rush to suppress the very attribute that landed them the enviable slots. Apparently overly conscious to potential perceptions of having relied on gender to journey to prominence, they deliberately stifle their beauty and personal charms that would win vital attention to causes they hold dear. Some turn up in public in clothes and hairstyles that even Wangari Maathai or striking teachers would not take to the streets. Others, who are fairly young and at the cusp of their sexuality, rush to embrace matronly fashion and demeanour in the false believe it would enhance their leadership credibility.

This is not being sexist. Look at Angela Merkel of Germany, Gloria Arroyo of Philippines, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice of USA, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina and even Carla Bruni-Sarkozy of France, powerful women who have not hesitated to flaunt their beauty and put their brains to good use.

Even good old Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president, knows a thing or two about the power of looking pretty.

He wants the uniforms of women footballers made more sexy — short and fitting, or lose and revealing ala tennis — to attract more male supporters and respect for the sport.

It is time women leaders, especially MPs, reflected on why models are chosen to popularise luxurious goods even when they are privately too poor to afford the same or when they are clearly not part of the bargain.

—[e-mail]

[einstein]

Women leaders will make a difference


Reacting to the two fires that have claimed at least 150 lives in less than a week, the First Lady made some comments that are worth pondering over as we consider how to prevent future disasters.

She did not mince words, and she seemed convinced that if we had a woman minister for Internal Security, such disasters could have been prevented.

As one who strongly believes that women do bring a different perspective to leadership, I fully support that thinking.

Besides the simple fact that it is impossible to build a modern nation on the basis of exclusion and inequality, it is also worth noting that a woman’s perspective in leadership is different from a man’s.

In a small qualitative research I headed in 2007, we specifically wanted to find out if women parliamentarians and civic leaders in Kenya between 2003 to 2007 had brought a different perspective into the management of their affairs with the communities.

In this study, the projects women gave priority to were analysed under the backdrop of the human development approach. People are the real wealth of nations. Therefore, development is about expanding the choices people make to lead the lives they value.

In a human development approach, life would be safeguarded at all costs, an area that has been found wanting in this country if the two recent disasters are anything to go by.

The women leaders interviewed were particularly keen to improve the lot of the underprivileged in their communities.

They were concentrating on the value of life, from the basics of good health and nutrition, to the impact of the spread of disease, the underprivileged in society such as orphans, the provision of water, to the human rights of women.

These interests can be construed as “feminine”, since they appealed to the maternal nature of the leaders interviewed.

THE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT APPR-oach does not merely generate economic growth, but distributes its benefits equitably. It regenerates the environment rather than destroying it and empowers people rather than marginalising them.

It also enlarges their choices and opportunities, and provides for people’s participation in decisions affecting their lives.

Human development, therefore, looks constantly to enlarge the capabilities of people to lead full, productive, satisfying and valuable lives by raising their incomes and improving other components of their standard of living such as life expectancy, health, literacy, knowledge and control over their own destiny.

All the women interviewed in our study except one seemed to adhere to the human development approach in the projects that they had given highest priority to in the areas they represented and nationally.

The study revealed that there did, indeed, seem to be a difference in perspective between men and women leaders, as revealed by the development projects the women had given priority to, as well as the kind of legislation they pushed for.

In all these, women adopted a human development approach, as opposed to their male counterparts who adopted a top-down approach.

It can be argued that the presence of women in political leadership is one of the most effective the decision-making processes. Does this then not give enough reason to have a 50 per cent representation of women in the Cabinet and other top political positions?

Dr Kamau is a senior lecturer, St Paul’s University, Limuru.

[politicalmaniac]

I have yet to meet a callous woman politician, crazy lucy not withstanding.